How do I check if an agency in Dubai is running my Google Ads honestly?

I hired a Google Ads agency for my business in Dubai, but I feel like I am not getting enough clarity on where my ad budget is going. What are the signs that an agency is managing Google Ads properly, and how can I verify everything myself?

If your website has suddenly become slow or starts behaving differently without any changes from your side, it is worth investigating immediately. In my experience, many website owners only realize something is wrong after customers report issues or Google flags the site. The sooner you identify the signs, the easier it is to limit the damage and recover your website.

Signs your website may have been hacked

Unusual drop in website performance
A hacked website often becomes noticeably slower because malicious scripts consume server resources. If pages that were previously fast now take much longer to load, it deserves attention.

Unexpected changes to your website
Look for new pages, strange pop-ups, unfamiliar links, or content you did not add. Even small changes can indicate that someone has gained unauthorized access.

Unknown user accounts
Check your CMS or hosting control panel for new administrator or editor accounts. Hackers often create hidden accounts so they can return later.

Security warnings from Google or your hosting provider
If Google displays a warning before visitors access your site or your hosting company alerts you about malware or suspicious activity, treat it as a priority.

Traffic from suspicious sources
A sudden spike in traffic from unusual countries or unknown referral websites may indicate malicious bots or spam activity rather than genuine visitors.

Customers reporting strange behavior
If visitors mention being redirected to another website, seeing unexpected advertisements, or receiving browser security warnings, your website may have been compromised.

What to do first

Take a full backup
Create a backup of your website before making any changes. This helps preserve evidence and gives you a recovery point if needed.

Change all passwords immediately
Update passwords for your hosting account, website admin, database, FTP, and email accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for every login.

Scan your website for malware
Use a trusted security scanner or ask your hosting provider to perform a malware scan. This helps identify infected files and suspicious code.

Update your website software
Install the latest updates for your CMS, plugins, themes, and server software. Many attacks happen because outdated software contains known security flaws.

Consult a website security expert
If you are unsure how the attack happened or the issue continues after basic checks, contact a website security professional. They can clean the website, close security gaps, and help prevent future attacks.

When I hire a Google Ads agency, I do not simply look at the number of leads they report. I verify whether I have full visibility into the account and whether the data supports their claims.

The first thing I check is account ownership. The Google Ads account should belong to my business, not the agency. If the agency created the account, I ask for administrative access. An honest agency has no reason to hide account access from me.

Next, I review where my budget is going. I look at campaign spend, clicks, conversions, and search terms. If I see large amounts of spending on irrelevant keywords or very broad searches that do not match my services, I ask for an explanation. A trustworthy agency should be able to explain every major spending decision.

I also compare the leads reported by the agency with the actual enquiries my business receives. If the agency claims 100 conversions but my sales team only received 20 genuine enquiries, something is wrong. I always verify leads through my CRM, phone records, contact forms, or WhatsApp enquiries.

Another important check is conversion tracking. I ask the agency exactly what they count as a conversion. Some agencies report page views, button clicks, or other actions as conversions even when they do not represent real business enquiries. I want to know how many phone calls, form submissions, bookings, or sales came from the campaigns.

I regularly review the search terms report. This report shows the actual phrases people typed before clicking my ad. If I find unrelated searches, I question why my budget is being spent on them. A well managed account should continuously add negative keywords to reduce waste.

I also pay attention to transparency in reporting. An honest agency shares both successes and problems. If I only receive positive reports and never hear about challenges, missed targets, or opportunities for improvement, I become cautious. Real campaigns always have areas that need optimization.

For businesses in Dubai, I specifically check location targeting. I want to confirm that my ads are reaching the locations and audiences that matter to my business. If I serve only Dubai but receive clicks from irrelevant regions, I ask why that traffic is being purchased.

Finally, I watch for warning signs such as restricted account access, vague reports, refusal to share keyword data, unexplained increases in spend, or promises of guaranteed rankings and guaranteed leads. In my experience, honest agencies focus on measurable business outcomes and provide complete visibility into how they manage advertising budgets.

The simplest test is this: if I can access the account, see where every dirham is being spent, verify the leads independently, and receive clear answers to my questions, I usually feel confident that the agency is managing my Google Ads honestly.